Neoware is shipping a ruggedized thin client designed to support industrial applications such as retail distribution centers, transportation hubs, and manufacturing shop floors. The e900 comes stock with a Neoware's custom embedded Linux OS, but can be modified to run other OSes, the company says.

The e900 is Neoware's first rugged thin-client design, and the company calls the product “ground-breaking.” Neoware says the e900 is suitable for use in freezers, open warehouses, tractor-trailers, and dusty outdoor lots. A variety of mounting options, including VESA 100 x 100mm, allow it to be mounted on forklifts or warehouse poles, it says. The device was “designed to sustain falls and be exposed to moisture without being damaged,” according to the company, and will not die if “left out in the rain or dropped from a platform.”

The e900 can operate from -22 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit (-30 degrees to 50 degrees Celsius), and its enclosure was awarded 4x and IP56 ratings for corrosion and water resistance from NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturer's Association). It can operate in 95 percent non-condensing humidity, Neoware claims, and supports 2G of vibration or 24G of shock tolerance, when installed on a mounting bracket.

Additional e900 features include:

• Disk-less architecture, for greater reliability and security
• 12-inch, SVGA (800 x 600) TFT active LCD analog-resistive touchscreen supporting 8-bit color
  • A physical brightness adjustment on the front bezel can be adjusted for visibility in bright sunlight, Neoware says.
• 802.11b wireless network interface
  • Dual-diversity RF antenna supports operation in “remote warehouse corners,” Neoware says
• Support for handheld barcode scanners
• 104dB audible beeper

Neoware says the e900 is compatible with its other thin client products, and can be centrally managed using standard Neoware management software, such as the Image Manager product released last month. A copy of Neoware's EzRemote Manager comes bundled with the e900; EzRemote Manager is based on open standards, and can interoperate with IBM Tivoli, Microsoft SMS, and Altiris Deployment Solution systems, Neoware says.

What's under the hood?

The e900 is based on an AMD GX1, a low-power, embedded-oriented, x86-compatible processor available at 200 and 333MHz. The GX1 is part of a two-chip chipset design that also includes AMD's CS5530A. The chipset provides a full range of PC interfaces, including PCI, ISA, USB, audio, and a display controller.

The e900 comes stock with 64MB of Flash, and 128MB of RAM.

I/O ports include one USB port, PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports, RJ45 Ethernet port, two serial ports, and one parallel port.

A wide-range onboard DC-DC converter supports input voltages from 9- to 60-Volts. Typical power draw is 20 Watts, or 35 Watts with internal heater in use, Neoware says.

The device measures 12.7 x 12 x 4.2 inches, and weighs 15.5 pounds, or 30 pounds with the keyboard (!).

On the software side, the e900 comes with Neoware's customizable Linux-based thin-client OS, which the company says can be built to support protocols required by the customer. Options include:

• Citrix ICA
  • NFuse web interface
  • Program Neighborhood
  • PN Agent
  • Secure Gateway
• RDP (Microsoft “remote desktop protocol”)
• Host access
  • Teem Talk host access
• Web browser
• Java/JVM
• VNC shadowing
• EZConnect connection manager
• PPP/dial-up
• X11R6/XDM
• Thinprint

Availability

The Neoware e900 is shipping now, with prices starting at $3,999, depending on configuration.

 
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